Caprivi Strip: Difference between revisions
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} | ||
[[File:Caprivistrip.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Map of the Caprivi]] | [[File:Caprivistrip.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Map of the Caprivi]] | ||
The '''Caprivi Strip''', also known simply as '''Caprivi''', is a [[salient (geography)|geographic salient]] protruding from the northeastern corner of [[Namibia]]. It is bordered by [[Botswana]] to the south and [[Angola]] and [[Zambia]] to the north. Namibia, Botswana and Zambia meet at a single point at the eastern tip of the Strip, which also comes within {{convert|150|m|abbr=on}} of [[Zimbabwe]], thus nearly forming a [[Quadripoint#Botswana%E2%80%93Namibia%E2%80%93Zambia%E2%80%93Zimbabwe|quadripoint]]. Botswana and Zambia share | The '''Caprivi Strip''', also known simply as '''Caprivi''', is a [[salient (geography)|geographic salient]] protruding from the northeastern corner of [[Namibia]]. It is bordered by [[Botswana]] to the south and [[Angola]] and [[Zambia]] to the north. Namibia, Botswana and Zambia meet at a single point at the eastern tip of the Strip, which also comes within {{convert|150|m|abbr=on}} of [[Zimbabwe]], thus nearly forming a [[Quadripoint#Botswana%E2%80%93Namibia%E2%80%93Zambia%E2%80%93Zimbabwe|quadripoint]]. Instead, Botswana and Zambia share this {{convert|150|m|adj=on}} border that intersects a bridge at the crossing of [[Kazungula]]. | ||
The territory was acquired in 1890 by | The territory was acquired in 1890 by [[German South West Africa]] in order to provide access to the [[Zambezi River]] and consequently a route to the east coast of the continent and [[German East Africa]]. The route was later found not to be navigable because of the location of the [[Victoria Falls]], one of the world's largest waterfalls, about {{convert|40|mi|km|round=5|order=flip|abbr=off}} east of the Caprivi Strip,<ref name=Jacobs2013/> and because of more waterfalls downstream such as [[Kariba Gorge]] and [[Cahora Bassa Dam|Cahora Bassa]]. | ||
Within Namibia, the Strip is divided administratively between the [[Kavango East]] and [[Zambezi Region|Zambezi]] regions. It is crossed by the [[Okavango River]]. The [[Cuando River]] forms part of its border with Botswana, and the Zambezi River forms | Within Namibia, the Strip is divided administratively between the [[Kavango East]] and [[Zambezi Region|Zambezi]] regions. It is crossed by the [[Okavango River]]. The [[Cuando River]] forms part of its border with Botswana, and the Zambezi River forms part of its border with Zambia. The width of the strip varies from about {{convert|32|km|mi|abbr=on}} to {{convert|105|km|mi|abbr=on}}. Its largest settlement is [[Katima Mulilo]], located at the point where the Zambezi reaches the Strip. | ||
==Toponym== | ==Toponym== | ||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
==Natural features== | ==Natural features== | ||
[[File:Village in caprivi flood plain.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Village in the Caprivi Strip]] | [[File:Village in caprivi flood plain.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Village in the Caprivi Strip]] | ||
Within Namibia the Caprivi Strip provides significant habitat for the critically [[endangered]] [[African wild dog]] (''Lycaon pictus'').<ref>C. Michael Hogan. 2009</ref> It is a corridor for [[African bush elephant|African elephant]] moving from Botswana and Namibia into Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. National parks found in the Caprivi Strip are [[Bwabwata National Park]], [[Mudumu National Park]] and [[Nkasa Rupara National Park]]. Local communities have organised themselves into communal area conservancies and community forests. People work closely with the Namibian government to jointly manage natural resources through several programmes set up between the Namibian government and various donor parties.<ref name="State of Protected Areas in Namibia">{{cite book|title=State of Protected Areas in Namibia|year=2011|publisher=Ministry of Environment and Tourism|location=Windhoek, Namibia}}</ref> | |||
Within Namibia the Caprivi Strip provides significant habitat for the critically [[endangered]] [[African wild dog]] (''Lycaon pictus'').<ref>C. Michael Hogan. 2009</ref> It is a corridor for [[African bush elephant|African elephant]] moving from Botswana and Namibia into Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. National parks found in the Caprivi Strip are [[Bwabwata National Park]], [[Mudumu National Park]] and [[Nkasa Rupara National Park]]. Local communities have organised themselves into communal area conservancies and community forests. People work closely with the Namibian | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
[[File:Leo von Caprivi.jpg|thumb|upright|German chancellor [[Leo von Caprivi|Georg Leo Graf von Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli]], who gave his name to the Caprivi Strip]]Caprivi was named after [[Chancellor of Germany (German Reich)|German Chancellor]] [[Leo von Caprivi]] (in office 1890–1894), who negotiated the acquisition of the land in an 1890 exchange with the United Kingdom. Caprivi arranged for the Caprivi | [[File:Leo von Caprivi.jpg|thumb|upright|German chancellor [[Leo von Caprivi|Georg Leo Graf von Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli]], who gave his name to the Caprivi Strip]]Caprivi was named after [[Chancellor of Germany (German Reich)|German Chancellor]] [[Leo von Caprivi]] (in office 1890–1894), who negotiated the acquisition of the land in an 1890 exchange with the United Kingdom. Caprivi arranged for the Caprivi Strip to be annexed to [[German South West Africa]], gaining Germany access to the [[Zambezi|Zambezi River]] and a route to Africa's east coast, where the colony of [[German East Africa]] (now part of [[Tanzania]]) was situated.<ref name=Jacobs2013>{{cite web|url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/a-few-salient-points/?_r=0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017020632/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/a-few-salient-points/?_r=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 October 2013|title=A Few Salient Points|date=5 December 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|last=Jacobs|first=Frank }}</ref> The transfer of territory was a part of the [[Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty]] of 1890, in which Germany gave up its interest in [[Zanzibar]] in return for the Caprivi Strip and the island of [[Heligoland]] in the [[North Sea]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Perras, Arne |title=Carl Peters and German Imperialism 1856–1918 : A Political Biography: A Political Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B02hIAIrsEgC&pg=PA168|year=2004|publisher=Clarendon Press|pages=168–79|isbn=9780191514722}}</ref> | ||
The river later proved unnavigable and inaccessible to the [[Indian Ocean]] due to the location of the [[Victoria Falls]] and more falls, a fact that was possibly already known to the British side during the negotiations. Caprivi itself was remote and inaccessible during the rainy season, and the Germans did not find use for it. After a mineral expedition in 1909 proved unsuccessful, Germany contemplated exchanging the strip for some other British territory, such as [[Walvis Bay]]. When that territory was transferred to the [[Cape Colony]] by the British in 1910, Germany was stuck with Caprivi for the rest of its colonial history.<ref name=Jacobs2013/> | The river later proved unnavigable and inaccessible to the [[Indian Ocean]] due to the location of the [[Victoria Falls]] and more falls, a fact that was possibly already known to the British side during the negotiations. Caprivi itself was remote and inaccessible during the rainy season, and the Germans did not find use for it. After a mineral expedition in 1909 proved unsuccessful, Germany contemplated exchanging the strip for some other British territory, such as [[Walvis Bay]]. When that territory was transferred to the [[Cape Colony]] by the British in 1910, Germany was stuck with Caprivi for the rest of its colonial history.<ref name=Jacobs2013/> | ||
In 1976, the South African administration established the self-governing [[East Caprivi|Eastern Caprivi homeland]] with its own flag, national anthem, and coat of arms.<ref name="growth">{{cite news|title=Rapid growth to urban centre|last=Inambao|first=Chrispin|date=<!-- Katima Mulilo 75th anniversary supplement to New Era, --> December 2010|newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]]}}</ref> It remained under direct ''de facto'' control of the South African government in Pretoria until 1980, when its administration was transferred to [[South West Africa|South West Africa's administration]] in Windhoek.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lenggenhager|first=Luregn|title=Nature, War and Development: South Africa's Caprivi Strip, 1960–1980|journal=Journal of Southern African Studies|language=en|volume=41|issue=3|pages=467–483|doi=10.1080/03057070.2015.1025337|year=2015|s2cid=142811673 }}</ref> | In 1976, the South African administration established the self-governing [[East Caprivi|Eastern Caprivi homeland]] with its own flag, national anthem, and coat of arms.<ref name="growth">{{cite news|title=Rapid growth to urban centre|last=Inambao|first=Chrispin|date=<!-- Katima Mulilo 75th anniversary supplement to New Era, --> December 2010|newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]]}}</ref> It remained under direct ''de facto'' control of the South African government in Pretoria until 1980, when its administration was transferred to [[South West Africa|South West Africa's administration]] in [[Windhoek]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lenggenhager|first=Luregn|title=Nature, War and Development: South Africa's Caprivi Strip, 1960–1980|journal=Journal of Southern African Studies|language=en|volume=41|issue=3|pages=467–483|doi=10.1080/03057070.2015.1025337|year=2015|s2cid=142811673 }}</ref> | ||
In the late 20th century, the Caprivi Strip attracted attention when Namibia and Botswana took a long-standing dispute over its southern boundary to the [[International Court of Justice]]. The core of the [[Kasikili#Territorial dispute|territorial dispute]] concerned which channel of the [[Chobe River]] was the [[thalweg]], the ''bona fide'' international boundary. This was important, as, depending on the decision, a large island (known as [[Sedudu|Kasikili or Sedudu]], by Namibia and Botswana respectively) would fall into one or the other's national territory. The Botswana government considered the island as an integral part of the [[Chobe National Park]], whereas the Namibian government, and many inhabitants of the eastern Caprivi Strip, held that not only was the island part of the original German–British agreement, but generations of inhabitants had used it for seasonal grazing, for reed-gathering, and as a burial site. In December 1999, the International Court of Justice ruled that the main channel, and hence the international boundary, lay to the north of the island, thus making the island part of Botswana.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070309223831/http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/idocket/ibona/ibonaframe.htm The Court finds that Kasikili/Sedudu Island forms part of the territory of Botswana] (archive link)</ref> | In the late 20th century, the Caprivi Strip attracted attention when Namibia and Botswana took a long-standing dispute over its southern boundary to the [[International Court of Justice]]. The core of the [[Kasikili#Territorial dispute|territorial dispute]] concerned which channel of the [[Chobe River]] was the [[thalweg]], the ''bona fide'' international boundary. This was important, as, depending on the decision, a large island (known as [[Sedudu|Kasikili or Sedudu]], by Namibia and Botswana respectively) would fall into one or the other's national territory. The Botswana government considered the island as an integral part of the [[Chobe National Park]], whereas the Namibian government, and many inhabitants of the eastern Caprivi Strip, held that not only was the island part of the original German–British agreement, but generations of inhabitants had used it for seasonal grazing, for reed-gathering, and as a burial site. In December 1999, the International Court of Justice ruled that the main channel, and hence the international boundary, lay to the north of the island, thus making the island part of Botswana.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070309223831/http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/idocket/ibona/ibonaframe.htm The Court finds that Kasikili/Sedudu Island forms part of the territory of Botswana] (archive link)</ref> | ||
== | ==Wars== | ||
During the [[Rhodesian Bush War]] (1964–1979), [[SWAPO|South West African People's Organization]]'s and [[Caprivi African National Union]]'s (CANU) [[South African Border War|liberation war]] against the [[South Africa]]n occupation (1965–1994) and the [[Angolan Civil War]] (1975–2002), the Strip saw continual military action and multiple incursions by various armed forces using the Strip as a corridor to access other territories.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruling nature, controlling people : nature conservation, development and war in North-Eastern Namibia since the 1920s|last=Lenggenhager, Luregn|date=2018|publisher=Basler Afrika Bibliographien|isbn=9783906927015|location=Basel|oclc=1066193724}}</ref> | |||
===Caprivi conflict=== | ===Caprivi conflict=== | ||
[[File:Caprivi-escort.jpg|thumb|Namibian military escort through the Caprivi Strip.]] | [[File:Caprivi-escort.jpg|thumb|Namibian military escort through the Caprivi Strip.]] | ||
{{main|Caprivi conflict}} | {{main|Caprivi conflict}}{{See also|Lozi secessionism}} | ||
The [[Caprivi conflict]] was an armed conflict in [[Namibia]] between the [[Caprivi Liberation Army]] (CLA), a [[Rebellion|rebel]] group aiming for the secession of the Caprivi Strip led by [[Mishake Muyongo]], and the Namibian government. Its main eruption occurred on 2 August 1999 when the CLA launched an attack in Katima Mulilo, occupying the state-run radio station and attacking a police station, the Wenela border post, and an army base. Namibian armed forces quashed the attempt at [[secession]] within a few days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://namibweb.com/article2.htm|title=Civil supremacy of the military in Namibia: A retrospective case study|publisher=NamibWeb|access-date=2008-11-08}}</ref> | |||
The [[Caprivi conflict]] | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Latest revision as of 19:24, 24 December 2025
Template:EngvarB Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates
The Caprivi Strip, also known simply as Caprivi, is a geographic salient protruding from the northeastern corner of Namibia. It is bordered by Botswana to the south and Angola and Zambia to the north. Namibia, Botswana and Zambia meet at a single point at the eastern tip of the Strip, which also comes within Script error: No such module "convert". of Zimbabwe, thus nearly forming a quadripoint. Instead, Botswana and Zambia share this Script error: No such module "convert". border that intersects a bridge at the crossing of Kazungula.
The territory was acquired in 1890 by German South West Africa in order to provide access to the Zambezi River and consequently a route to the east coast of the continent and German East Africa. The route was later found not to be navigable because of the location of the Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls, about Script error: No such module "convert". east of the Caprivi Strip,[1] and because of more waterfalls downstream such as Kariba Gorge and Cahora Bassa.
Within Namibia, the Strip is divided administratively between the Kavango East and Zambezi regions. It is crossed by the Okavango River. The Cuando River forms part of its border with Botswana, and the Zambezi River forms part of its border with Zambia. The width of the strip varies from about Script error: No such module "convert". to Script error: No such module "convert".. Its largest settlement is Katima Mulilo, located at the point where the Zambezi reaches the Strip.
Toponym
When Namibia was a German colony, the Caprivi Strip was known in German as Caprivizipfel. Before colonisation, it was known as Itenge. During a short-lived secession attempt around the year 2000, the name Itenge was used by the separatists. It is also sometimes called the Okavango Panhandle.
Languages
Inhabitants of the Caprivi Strip speak a number of African languages, mostly members of the Bantu language family, with speakers of Mbarakwena [Xu-Khoisan], Hukwe a San language, in the northwest of the strip near the border with Angola. The Bantu languages include Yeyi (or 'Yei' or 'Yeeyi'),[2]Template:Better source needed Mbukushu, Gciriku (or 'Dciriku'), Fwe, Totela, and Subiya. The Silozi language is a lingua Franca of the Caprivi Strip, especially in Katima Mulilo, where some residents speak Lozi, a language of western Zambia,[3] as a lingua franca. Many also speak English, while Template:Cns
Natural features
Within Namibia the Caprivi Strip provides significant habitat for the critically endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).[4] It is a corridor for African elephant moving from Botswana and Namibia into Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. National parks found in the Caprivi Strip are Bwabwata National Park, Mudumu National Park and Nkasa Rupara National Park. Local communities have organised themselves into communal area conservancies and community forests. People work closely with the Namibian government to jointly manage natural resources through several programmes set up between the Namibian government and various donor parties.[5]
History
Caprivi was named after German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi (in office 1890–1894), who negotiated the acquisition of the land in an 1890 exchange with the United Kingdom. Caprivi arranged for the Caprivi Strip to be annexed to German South West Africa, gaining Germany access to the Zambezi River and a route to Africa's east coast, where the colony of German East Africa (now part of Tanzania) was situated.[1] The transfer of territory was a part of the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty of 1890, in which Germany gave up its interest in Zanzibar in return for the Caprivi Strip and the island of Heligoland in the North Sea.[6]
The river later proved unnavigable and inaccessible to the Indian Ocean due to the location of the Victoria Falls and more falls, a fact that was possibly already known to the British side during the negotiations. Caprivi itself was remote and inaccessible during the rainy season, and the Germans did not find use for it. After a mineral expedition in 1909 proved unsuccessful, Germany contemplated exchanging the strip for some other British territory, such as Walvis Bay. When that territory was transferred to the Cape Colony by the British in 1910, Germany was stuck with Caprivi for the rest of its colonial history.[1]
In 1976, the South African administration established the self-governing Eastern Caprivi homeland with its own flag, national anthem, and coat of arms.[7] It remained under direct de facto control of the South African government in Pretoria until 1980, when its administration was transferred to South West Africa's administration in Windhoek.[8]
In the late 20th century, the Caprivi Strip attracted attention when Namibia and Botswana took a long-standing dispute over its southern boundary to the International Court of Justice. The core of the territorial dispute concerned which channel of the Chobe River was the thalweg, the bona fide international boundary. This was important, as, depending on the decision, a large island (known as Kasikili or Sedudu, by Namibia and Botswana respectively) would fall into one or the other's national territory. The Botswana government considered the island as an integral part of the Chobe National Park, whereas the Namibian government, and many inhabitants of the eastern Caprivi Strip, held that not only was the island part of the original German–British agreement, but generations of inhabitants had used it for seasonal grazing, for reed-gathering, and as a burial site. In December 1999, the International Court of Justice ruled that the main channel, and hence the international boundary, lay to the north of the island, thus making the island part of Botswana.[9]
Wars
During the Rhodesian Bush War (1964–1979), South West African People's Organization's and Caprivi African National Union's (CANU) liberation war against the South African occupation (1965–1994) and the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002), the Strip saw continual military action and multiple incursions by various armed forces using the Strip as a corridor to access other territories.[10]
Caprivi conflict
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The Caprivi conflict was an armed conflict in Namibia between the Caprivi Liberation Army (CLA), a rebel group aiming for the secession of the Caprivi Strip led by Mishake Muyongo, and the Namibian government. Its main eruption occurred on 2 August 1999 when the CLA launched an attack in Katima Mulilo, occupying the state-run radio station and attacking a police station, the Wenela border post, and an army base. Namibian armed forces quashed the attempt at secession within a few days.[11]
Notes
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- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Simon S. Donnelly. (1990). Phonology and morphology of the noun in Yeeyi. University of Cape Town: BA Hons mini-dissertation.
- ↑ Derek F. Gowlett. 1989
- ↑ C. Michael Hogan. 2009
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ The Court finds that Kasikili/Sedudu Island forms part of the territory of Botswana (archive link)
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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References
Template:Sister project Template:Wikivoyage
- Derek F. Gowlett. 1989. The parentage and development of Lozi. Journal of African Languages and Literature, 11, 127–149.
- C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Painted Hunting Dog: Lycaon pictus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
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